Poor People's Politics

This book explores the intricate political networks among Argentina's urban poor, revealing how they navigate clientelism for survival. Poor People's Politics offers profound insights into their experiences.

The term 'political clientelism' is used to describe the intricate relationships between political elites and impoverished communities in Latin America, where goods and services are exchanged for political support. In Poor People's Politics, Javier Auyero offers an in-depth ethnographic study focused on the Peronist Party's interactions with shantytown residents in contemporary Argentina. By examining the informal networks that the urban poor rely on for survival, Auyero sheds light on the complex dynamics of these exchanges and the various interpretations of Peronism within these communities.

Auyero's research is rooted in the lives of the residents of Villa Paraíso, a marginalized shantytown in Buenos Aires. He explores how local politicians deliver essential favors to the impoverished and how these individuals perceive and assess such assistance. Through his detailed observations, Auyero uncovers the structure of these networks, the nature of the transactions that occur, and the pivotal role women play in facilitating these exchanges. He argues that the act of providing resources in return for votes carries a performative significance, shaping the relationship between those seeking help and those offering it, while also producing varied interpretations of contemporary Peronism.

In Poor People's Politics, Auyero reexamines the ties between politics and the destitute in Latin America, revealing how politics are intricately woven into the lives of those who may not mobilize in conventional ways but are far from passive. This book is a valuable resource for students and scholars across multiple disciplines, including sociology, anthropology, political science, and cultural studies, as it highlights the resilience and agency of the urban poor in navigating their political landscape.